Here’s a brilliant invention that makes us wonder why all city sidewalks aren’t covered in piezoelectric tiles[2]. POWERleap[3] is a floor tiling system that converts wasted energy from human foot traffic into electricity. The magic behind that awesomeness is piezoelectric technology[2] and advanced circuitry design, which converts pitter-patter into power. First showcased in 2007 as part of Metropolis magazine’s Next Generation design competition[4], we see HUGE potential from this invention. Individual footsteps might not produce a significant amount of power, but if you consider the total kinetic energy from stampedes of shoppers on 5th avenue, (or commuters in a train station[5], or revelers in a nightclub[6]), it all adds up fast and could be a viable energy source to power specific applications like lights.